Rethinking Academia is an initiative aimed at organizing events (e.g., panel discussions, talks) to raise awareness about the current structural controversies emerged within academics. The academic environment is, in fact, facing a number of systemic problems — such as inclusiveness, the organisation of the scientific publishing, and the attribution of funding — that hardly find dedicated platforms where to be discussed by researchers. This endeavor has been conceived by young scientists of the University of Vienna (Austria) to discuss future perspectives and propose concrete alternatives to these controversies, hoping to stimulate further debate among academics and shed light on possible viable ways towards structural changes.

This series of gatherings is addressed to researchers at any steps of their scientific careers, and it is constituted only of public events free-of-charge.

We refuse to compromise the ideals of academic freedom and open exchange. We affirm that scientific events have to be open to everybody, regardless of class, financial situation, race, sex, religion, national origin, sexual orientation, gender identity, disability, age, pregnancy, immigration status, academic affiliation, or any other aspect of identity.

We believe that such events have to be supportive, inclusive, and safe environments for all participants. We believe that all participants are to be treated with dignity and respect. Discrimination and harassment cannot be tolerated. We are committed to ensuring that the scientific events in which we participate follow these principles.